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Committee affirms public-comment limits, members question five-minute applicant presentations
Summary
The Rules Committee retained three-minute public comments and five-minute applicant presentation limits but heard concerns that five minutes may be inadequate for some petitions; the chair noted the chair may extend time at their discretion.
During its review of Rule #3 on June 10, the Rules Committee reiterated that members of the public may speak for three minutes on agenda items while applicants, agents, experts and attorneys are allowed a total of five minutes to present.
Councilor George Balakier expressed concern that five minutes may not be sufficient for petitioners to present complex projects. Councilor Frank Laflamme responded that the rule allows the chair to extend presentation time at the chair’s sole discretion, and that if applicants receive extra time the opposition’s attorney must be granted the same extension.
The committee crossed the discussion with other rule changes, then voted to approve the rules as amended. No numeric change to the three- or five-minute limits was adopted at the meeting.
